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Uni students still worried over fee spend

University students say there are still problems in the way institutions decide how to spend amenities fees.

But there are some positive stories, with more than half of student associations surveyed reporting they received more funding than in previous years due to the new student services and amenities fee (SSAF).

The National Union of Students (NUS) says its survey of how the fee was implemented in 2012, released on Wednesday, showed a patchwork of funding arrangements and processes.

The new fee, which students can defer in a HECS-style arrangement, was introduced by Labor as a measure to reverse voluntary student unionism.

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"There are some very problematic kinks in the implementation of the SSAF legislation that need to be ironed out," NUS president Jade Tyrrell said.

But the union was pleased the federal government intended to conduct its own review of guidelines associated with the fee.

Three-quarters of student organisations told the union their university's consultation with elected student representatives on how to spend the fees was either good or outstanding.

But three in five of the groups wouldn't recommend their university's consultation process as best practice.

The NUS said the uncertainty of funding was a concern, with eight out of 21 student organisations yet to sign any funding agreement with their university.

Another eight had signed interim agreements, while five had come to multi-year arrangements.

"We want to ensure students' money is going back to students and is being used to improve campus life and services at the behest of students, not the university," Ms Tyrrell said.